Abstract:
An apparatus for winding a tape medium comprises a hub (24) supported by a frame (22) for wrappingly receiving the tape medium (14). A drive (16) engages the hub and rotably drives it about a wind axis (W) whereby a length of the tape medium is wound to form a spool/like tape pack with a portion of the tape medium entering the tape pack at a tangential nip and with the tape pack having opposite first (62) and second (66) surfaces. A packing arm (43, 47) includes a proximal end portion (70, 72) at the hub and extends to a distal end portion (74, 76) at the circumference of the tape pack. The packing arm has a contact surface for contacting the first surface of the tape pack. A support member (42, 46) supports the packing arm in contact wiht the first surface of the tape pack. A tape reel assembly for mounting to and demounting from a tape drive apparatus is also provided.
Abstract:
The present magnetic tape cartridge having a data storage medium connected to an integral cleaning tape section is designed to accommodate the length of cleaning tape in a manner that is compatible with existing tape drive systems. In particular, the hub on the supply reel in the single reel magnetic tape cartridge is dimensioned to accept the length of cleaning tape such that the radial position of the End Of Tape hole in the magnetic tape media occurs in the same position as that of existing single reel magnetic tape cartridges that are not equipped with the length of cleaning tape appended to the magnetic tape media. This enables the cleaning tape equipped magnetic tape cartridge to be compatible with existing tape drive systems.
Abstract:
A magnetic tape in which a servo signal for tracking control is recorded in a magnetic layer or a backcoat layer, the difference between the recording track width and the reproducing track width is 16 µm or under, and the tape is transported at a tape transport speed of 4,000 mm/s or over. [&agr;/(Tw−Tr)] is 0.2 or under, the humidity expansion coefficient in the tape width direction is 0−14 × 10 −6 /%RH, and the coefficient of thermal expansion is 0−10 × 10 −6 /°C, where &agr;(µm) is the edge weave present on one tape edge or the other tape edge on the transport reference side when the tape is being transported, Tw (µm) is the recording track width, and Tr (µm) is the reproducing track width (µm). The recording track width of this magnetic tape is 28 µm or under. Even when the difference between the recording track width and the reproducing track width is 16 µm or under, degradation of the reproduction output by off−track hardly occurs, and the servo characteristic is excellent.
Abstract:
The present tape cartridge leader is provided with a flex relief aperture, located in the body of the tape cartridge leader between the guide wings. This flex relief aperture enables the tape cartridge leader to bend in a tight radius as the tape cartridge leader is pulled around the tape guide rollers in the tape drive, thereby ensuring that the tape cartridge leader is properly seated on the tape guide rollers as it traverses the tape path in the tape drive. The flex relief aperture also reduces the possibility of cracks forming in the tape cartridge leader where the guide wings meet the body of the tape cartridge leader, which is a problem in existing tape cartridge leaders.
Abstract:
The single reel tape cartridge with tape reel centering features provides mechanical positioning and centering of the tape reel with respect to the drive chuck of the tape drive when the tape cartridge is in any orientation. This constrains lateral movement of the tape reel to prevent the tape reel from contacting the interior surfaces of the tape cartridge housing. This is accomplished by seating the spring, that applies a bias force to press the tape reel against the drive chuck, in a spring sleeve that is formed in the center of the interior surface of the top section of the tape cartridge housing.
Abstract:
In a storage device (1) and in a storage container (3) which can be loaded into the storage device (1), the storage device (1) has holder means (46) for holding a storage container (3) which are guided so as to be movable between a loading position and an operating position and which are movable out their loading position in a first direction of movement (74) and which are movable into their operating position in a second direction of movement (75) which is oriented transversely to the first direction of movement (74), an d the storage container (3) has container-mounted positioning means (15) and the storage device (1) has device-mounted positioning means (156), the cassette-mounted positioning means (15) and the device-mounted positioning means (156) are constructed and arranged in such a manner that during a movement of the holder means (46) from their loading position into their operating position the storage container (3) can be positioned with respect to the device-mounted storage processing means already at the end of the movement in the first direction of movement (74) and during the subsequent movement in the second direction of movement (75) with the aid of the cooperating positioning means (15, 156).
Abstract:
A leader pin assembly (10) for attachment to tape (30) as a generic and space-efficient interface between tape and equipment which manipulates the tape, and a method for making the same. The leader pin assembly preferably includes a leader pin (12), an elastomer element (14), and a clip (16). The leader pin is barbell-shaped, having enlarged ends and at least one pair of flanges (20) each spaced a distance from a respective enlarged end (24) to define a pair of recesses (26) and a center section (18) of the leader pin. The center section of the leader pin is sized to permit tape to be wound around the center section, with the elastomer element surrounding the tape and with the clip snugly surrounding the elastomer element to keep the tape securely in place around the center section of the leader pin. The end surfaces of the leader pin may have an outward curve (48) to ensure smooth movement across equipment surfaces during leader pin assembly manipulation. Also the edges of the leader pin may be radiused.
Abstract:
In a system (1) having a device (2) comprising a pull-out element (42) which can be held in a standby position and having a cassette (3) comprising a coupling element (17) which can be positioned in a coupling position, the device (2) includes actuating means (45) capable of producing, when the cassette (3) is inserted into the device (2), a relative movement between the cassette (3) and the pull-out element (42) which is held in its standby position, which movement is oriented transversely to the mains walls (7, 8) of the cassette (3), and the coupling element (17) of the cassette (3) and the pull-out element (42) of the device (2) comprise coupling means (70) adapted to automatically establish a coupling during said relative movement.
Abstract:
Various structures are described to minimize tape edge creasing in a tape cartridge. Several structures prevent the flange from being pressed by the housing of the tape cartridge into the tape pack with sufficient force to crease the edges of any exposed tape strands. Use of various structures or alternative materials also can stiffen the flange, again reducing the likelihood of the flange deflecting into the tape pack.